Load handling machine



Oct. 23, 1951 w. M. HUSTON 2.572.029

LOAD HANDLING MAQHINE Fi1ed July 5, 1945 11 sheets-sheet 1 fyi w11, 1 mnun Lll 'y INVENTOR 1 Mmmm? oct. 23, 1951 W. M. HUs'roN 2,572,029

LOAUHANDLING MACHINE Filed July 5, v1945 11 Sheets-Sheet 2 Wm.. fla. /m BY W. M. HUSTON LOAD HANDLING MACHINE Oct. 23, 1951 11 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed July 5, 1945 INVEN-ro l.; h1- Mum I? La ATTO DEYJ 0ct. 23', 1951 w. M. HusToN 2,572,029

LOAD HANDLING MACHINE Filed July 5, 1945 l11 sheets-sheet 4 INVENTOR V.lx1-roaming W. M. HUSTON LOAD HANDLING MACHINE oct. 23, 1951 11 sheets-sheet 5 Filed July 5, 1945v INVENTOR ma., 4u. Ami. B

0ct. 23, 1951 w. M. HUSTON LOAD HANDLING MACHINE ll Sheets-Sheet 6 Filed July 5, 1945 INVENTOR mm. fwn

Y @im v ATTORNEYS Oct. 23, 1951 w. M. HUsToN 2,572,029

LOAD HANDLING MACHINE ll Sheets-Sheet 7 Filed July 5, 1945 INVENTOR Oct. 23, 1951 w. M. HUsToN 2,572,029

` LOAD HANDLING MACHINE F.i ed July 5, 1945 l1 Sheets-Sheet 8 INV ENTOR r- ATTRN EYJ Oct. 23, 1951 w. M. HUsToN 2,572,029

LOAD HANDLNG MACHINE Filed July 5, 1945 11 sheets-sheet 9 INVENTOR ATTORNEYS Oct. 23,'vhl95l w. M. HUSTON LOAD HANDLING MACHINE Filed Ju1yk5, 1945 11 sheets-sheet 1o f" I"` .93 v

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/V l/ MW L n /yy 102 105 M4 I NVENTOR -m 0mm-.. BY v i Q? ATToRNEYs W. M. HUSTON LOAD HANDLING MACHINE 11 sheets-sheet 11 Filed July 5, 1945 .ELSE Alv @EBI m R www. wzm? m W N rR E M O v H H H H m m /0 mv OMS ONS ONS l-r Y Q Q B QN maw Sw m2 Patented Oct. 23, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ,2,572,029 LoAn HANDLING MACHINE William M. Huston, Lima, Ohio Application July 5, 1945, serial No. 603,376 17 claims. H(o1. :n2- 38) This invention relates to load handling equipment and is concerned with a number of features of arrangement of they operating machinery and,

controls therefor, as well as with features of general arrangement of the machine as a whole including the rotating base structure, the cab, boom and gantry.

Although many features of the invention are machines of the type mounted on crawler trucks,

adapted to be propelled by an engine or power plant carried by the rotating base. With the foregoing considerations in mind, the invention is hereinafter described and is illustrated in the accompanying drawings'as applied to a crawlertype crane of large size capable of handling heavy loads.

One of the important objects of the invention is the provision of a load handling machine in which the rotating base carries a cab structure for housing the operating machinery, and further carries a control tower of considerable height, the operators station being located at the top of the control tower at an elevation providing vision for the operator well above the cab structure for enclosing the operating machinery, and preferably even above the head of the gantry structure. In a machine of large size, as is herein contemplated, for instance with a boom in the neighborhood of sixty to a hundred feet in length, the operators station is advantageously located at an elevation in the neighborhood of thirty feet from the ground, in consequence of which the operators vision is greatly improved, particularly for certain special purposes such, for example, as the loading and unloading of railroad freight cars. With an arrangement such as just described the operator may readily look down into a freight car having side walls of the maximum standard height. Similarly, the elevation of the opera-tors station is of considerable importance and advantage in use of the machine on docks, for loading and unloading equipment into or from the holds of ships.

In accordance with another important aspect of the invention, the arrangement of the machinery on the rotating base is such as to more effectively utilize the weight of the machinery, than has been practicable heretofore, in counterbalancing the load being handled by the boom. To this end, at least the primary, and preferably all of the shafts utilized to perform the normal functions of the machine, such as swing, propel, hoisting, and boom hoisting, are located to the rear of the center of swing motion about which the rotating base is mounted on the crawler truck. In the preferred embodiment, the machine of the invention is adapted to cooperate with a boom having a boom extension or jib, the point of the boom itself and also the point of the jib both being provided with sheaves adapted to cooperate with hoist cables which are respectively reeved on separately controllable hoist drums. The two hoist drums, `moreover, are preferably mounted on separate hoist shafts, both of which are located to the rear of the center of swing motion. Thus, even with the employment of a plurality of hoist drum shafts, all of the primary operating shafts of the machinery are located to the rear of the center of swing motion, with the advantage above mentioned of contributing counter-balancing. It may be mentioned in this connection that in a machine of large size, as herein contemplated. weighing, for example, in the neighborhood of 300,000 pounds, as much as 30,000 to Li0,000 pounds less counterweight is required than in an arrangement in which one or more of the primary shafts of the machinery are located ahead of the center o f swing motion.

According to another feature of the invention, two boom hoist drums are employed, these drums being arranged and mounted in a novel manner in the rotating base, as will further appear.

Still another object of the invention is the provision of a control mechanism, including various control organs located at the operators station in the control tower, and connected with the machinery mounted on the rotating base for remote control thereof. To this end, the invention contemplates employment of a uid pressure control system, with power cylinders associated with all of the 'major units of the machinery including, in the preferred embodiment, remotely controlled power cylinders for the engine clutch, the front hoist clutch, the front hoist brake, the rear hoist clutch, the rear hoist brake, the boom hoist clutches, the clutches employed for swing and propel in both directions, the swing brake, and the clutches for steering.

Beyond the foregoing, the controls at the operators station are grouped in a novel manner, and in considering this feature it is iirst mentioned that certain units of the operating machinery are adapted to be conditioned to` selectively perform the functions of swing and propel, and certain other units are adapted to be conditioned t selectively steer toward the right or the left, Moreover, it is here pointed out that the control tower is arranged toward oneside of the machine, offset from the longitudinal vertical midplane of the gantry and boom. With the control tower and with machinery units arranged as above mentioned, the inventionV contemplates division of the several controls into two groups, one of which is located at the front of the operators station and the other of which is located at a side thereof, preferably that side lying adjacent to the vertical plane of the boom and gantry. A

.More specifically,v the controls which are grouped at the side of the operators station include those which require presetting so as to condition various units of the machinery'to selectively perform diiferent functions; whereas ,the controls located at the front of the operators station comprise all of those primary control organs which are employed to regulate the operation of themachinery to performA its basic functions of hoisting, boom hoisting, swing and propel. YIn addition,l each of the groups of controlsY includes an engine throttle, the throttle in the front group-taking the form of a foot throttle and that in the side group taking the form of a hand throttle. The control for the swing brake and for the engine clutch are advantageously also included in the side group. With the arrangements just mentioned, those controls which require the closest ,attention on the part of the operator are located toward the front of the operators station, whereas those controls which requireonly presetting or only occasional operation are locatedat the side. f Y

Another advantageous feature of the invention is the location of various control devices, particularly iluid pressure valves just below the oor'or deck of the operators compartment in the control tower. The actuating. connections are thus brought down conveniently from the operatorsstation to the control valves, and fluid pressure lines are brought up from the .machinery on vthe rotating base for connection, with the valves justbelcw the oor of the operators station. With the controlvalves and the several fluid pressure connections grouped in thisway, the invention contemplates locationpf avdeck in the control tower` intermediate vthe floor o f the operators stationand the rotating base, which deck is `positioned to provide convenient accessv tothe control valves and the associated control connections. I

Another feature of the arrangements in the control tower is the provision of a circular stairway within the tower providing access from the rotating base to the operators station. This stairway, moreover, is so located as to provide also for convenient access to the intermediate deck provided below the location of the control valves and connections.

Beyond the foregoing provision is made accordingoto the invention for convenient access to other portions of the machine as a whole,` such as the gantryheadshaft, the roof; of the cab housing the machinery, and even the roof of the control tower.

Still another feature of the invention is the provision of a machine having a control tower, as above described, in which machine the boom carries a boom angle or radius indicator at a point spaced appreciably above the foot of the boom, so as to be readily visible from the operators station in any angular position of the boom.

With reference to the machine as a Whole, it

Ymay be said that the invention has, as an important general object, the provision of a load handling machine of large size capable of handling heavy loads, the operation and structure of the machine being simplified as much as is practicable consistent with safety and ruggedness.

How the foregoing objects and advantages are attained, together with others, will appear more fully from the following description referring to the accompanying drawings which illustrate a crawler-type crane constructed according to thepresent invention, and in'which- Figure lis a three-quarter front'persp'ective View of a crane constructed according to the invention, the view including only a portion of the boom, which is shown in substantially horizontal position; o

Figure 2 is a somewhat diagrammatic side outline view, on a reduced scale as compared with Figure l, the boom in this View being'illustrated toward the upperV limit of its range of movement; Figure 3 is an enlargedl'eft side elevational View of the cab and tower structure and various associated parts, with portions of the `cab and tower broken away to disclose certain interior arrangements; o Y Y o Figure 4 is a further enlarged plan view of the operators station in the top of the control tower, showing the arrangement of theseveral controls;

Figure 4F is an elevational view of the control stand which is located at the front of the operators station;

Figure 4S is an elevational view of the control stand which is located at the side ofthe operators station;

AFigure 5 is 'a right side view, on a scale somewhat enlarged as comparedwith Figure 3, showing the vgeneral arrangement of the machinery and its mounting on the rotating base, certain portions of this view being broken out and shown i in section, as is mentioned in detail hereinafter;

f the line 'l-'I on Figure 5, this view being'to an lill enlarged scale as compared with Figure 5; Figure 8 is a. plan view on the scale of Figure 7, illustrating the reverse shaft arrangementin relation toV certain other parts of the operating machinery;

Figure 9 is a view vchiefly in elevation taken' substantially as indicated by the line 9 91 on` Figure '7; and

Figure 10 is a piping'diagram of the control` system'.

aspects of the invention are equally applicable Although the drawings illustrate the invention as applied to a crane, in which association varius features ofthe invention are of especial advantage, it should be kept in mind that many to other types of load handling machines. In

fact, certain basic or essential arrangements and structures, such as the rotating base, the mafchinery supports, the gantry, cab and control tower, may be used with little if any substitution of parts in machines such as shovels, drag lines, clam shells and the like. It is contemplated that when employing various features of the invention for machines other than cranes, different types of lagging may be associated with one or both of the hoist drums; and other clutch and drive mechanisms may be supported by the machinery frames and power shafts, in order to adapt the basic mechanism to perform the normal functions of load handling machines of other types. To illustrate, in the case of a power shovel, a hoist drum may be employed to perform the function of dipper hoisting, and appropriate mechanisms will be added or substituted in order to take care of the functions of crowd-out and crowd-in.

Various features of general arrangement will now be described'with initial reference to Figures l to 4 inclusive.

The rotating base of the machine generally indicated at I3 is mounted on the crawler truck I4 having a pair of crawler treads I5-I5 on which the machine is adapted to be propelled on the ground. The rotating base is mounted for swing motion with respect to the truck about a vertical axis defined by a central bearing I6, the weight of the machine being transmitted through main rollers, some of which are indicated at I1 in Figures l and 3, to the circular l track I8 which is formed at the top of the truck structure I4. Hook rollers I9 are also associated With the circular track, the arrangement of main and hook rollers here shown constituting subject matter of my copending application Serial No.

603,379 filed concurrently herewith and entitled Load Handling Equipment, this copending application having issued July 4, 1950, as Patent No. 2,513,726. Since reference may be had to said copendin'g application, the roller arrangement is not described herein in detail.

The rotating base serves to carry the engine 20 and machinery frames 2l (see Figures 3 and 2, respectively) and, at its forward end, the base f also provides a point 22 for pivotal support of the foot end of the boom 23. The engine and the machinery on the rotating base are enclosed by a cab structure 24, and rising from the forward` left hand corner of the rotating base is an operators control tower 25.

As seen in Figure 2, in the particular embodiment illustrated, the boom 23 is composed of three sections, 23-a, 23-b and 23-c. This boom further carries a jib 26 which is braced by means l of a strut 21 and cables 28,29 and 30. Sheaves 3| are associated with the point 32 of the boom, these sheaves cooperating with hoist cable 33 for operating the hook 34. The tip of the jib 26 also carries sheaves 35 with which hoist cable 36 is associated, this cable serving to operate the hook 31. A guide sheave 38 for the cable 36 is carried by the jib bracing strut 21. With reference to the boom structure described just above, it is pointed out that the main portion of the boom is sectionalized so that, if desired, the intermediate section 23-b may be taken out, in which event the lower end of section 23-c is adapted to mate with and be secured to the upper end of the lower section 23-a. Moreover the jib 26 may or may notbe employed, according to the needs for which the machine is adapted. When the basic structure of the rotating base, machinery, etc., is employed in machines other than cranes, the elimination of the jib 26 and the 6 Y hoist cable 36' associated therewith makes one of the hoist drum shafts available to perform other functions.

TheV boom is adapted to be supported by a gantry structure including a pair of front compression legs 39 which are pinned at 40 to the rotating base adjacent to the pivot point 22 for the boom. The gantry further includes pairs of rear tension legs 4I--4I which, at their upper ends, are interconnected with the upper ends of the compression legs 39 by means of the gantry headshaft 42. Additional rear tension legs 43'-43 are connected with the lower ends of legs 4I by means of a transverse shaft 44, the legs 43 being extended downwardly to be pinned to the rotating base as at 45. The rear tension legs 4I-43 are braced by diagonal braces 46 which are extended between the transverse shaft 44 and the upper edges of the machinery frames 2 I. The details of this gantry structure need not be considered herein since they form no part of the present invention per se, the same being described and claimed in my copending application Serial No. 603,380, filed concurrently herewith entitled Gantry Structure, which application issued on April 20, 1948, as Patent No. 2,440,- 199. I

The gantry headshaft 42 serves to support sheaves 41 cooperating with boom hoist cable 48, which cable is also associated with sheaves 49 carried by a sling 50 which is connected with the boom point 32 by means of sling cables 5I.

The twoends of the boom hoist cable 48 are adapted to be reeved respectively on two boom hoist drums 52 and 53 (see Figures 2, 3, 6 and 7). Beginning at one drum 52 the boom hoist cable extends therefrom over certain sheaves 41 at the gantry headshaft and from there to sling sheaves 49, and back again to the sheaves on the gantry headshaft, there being several runs of cable arranged in this manner. The cable is then associated with the cross-over sheaves 54 which are slung from the gantry headshaft, and from there the cable passes in several runs between the headshaft and the sling sheaves 49, and the opposite end of the cable is ultimately reeved on the other boom hoist drum 53.

The gantry headshaft also serves as a reaction point for telescopic boom stop' devices 55--55, these devices being shown in Figures l, 2 and 3. It will be seen vthat the outer ends of the stop devices 55 are connected with the boom 23 at a point in the central region of the boom. The specific structure of the stops 55 need not be considered herein since they form no part of the present invention per se, the same being described and claimed in my copending application Serial No. 603,378, led concurrently herewith and entitled Boom Stops for Load Handling Machines, this copending application `having issued May 30, 1950, as Patent No. 2,509,686. It is here noted, however, that the boom stops are made up of telescopically associated tubular members which are adapted to act in compression between the boom and gantry head to prevent over-travel of the boom adjacent the upper limit of the range of movement, under certain abnormal conditions, for instance, in the event of a sling failure when handlinga heavy load.

Attention is now called to the fact that the operators control tower 25 is positioned to one side of the longitudinal vertical plane of the boom and gantry, 'so as to clear the various hoist and boom hoist cables, as well as the boom stops 55. The control tower, moreover, is of such height as to provide' `an operators station, 4aboveA floor 56 ,(see Figure 3) at 'an'e'levation affording vision for the operator well above the cab structure24 andfeven ,above `the -levelof the gantryheadshaft 42. 'For -clear vision in 'various directions, the front wall of the operators station, from the oor 56 .to l,the top, is comprised of windows 5l, Windows 58 are also arranged at each side of the operators station, and in addition windows 59 are provided in the tower roof. With the window Iarrangements mentioned, the operator may readily ob- :serve the load being handled and any surrounding obstacles, or the like, substantially through- :out the entire range Vof swinging movement of the boom, and substantially through :the entire range .of hoisting provided by either of the hooks 3H and 3l.

-In association vwith the operator-s station .located at a considerable elevation Aabove the Arotating base, as described above, the arrangement of the invention provides a further `advantageous feature, i. e., the mounting of a boom langle or radius indicator 23d (see Figure 2) on the .boom at a point spaced appreciably from the foot end thereof, so that when the boom is in substantially upright position Vthe indicator is located approximately at the level of the operators station, and so that -when the boom swings downwardly to substantially horizontal'position it vcan still be readily observed from the operators station.

As best seen in Figures 3 and 4, a seat 60 for Vthe operator is arranged generally centrally of the operators station, the controls, which are described more fully hereinafter, being located to the front of Vand at the right hand side of the operators seat 60. As shown in Figure 4, the iioor 56 of .the operators station is terminated at the line 56-(1, leaving a substantially clear vertical Well inthe rear portion of the control tower, and beneath the ioor 56 in which well a circular stair 'El is provided, the treads and risers radiating from the central supporting column 62. This stairway extends down to the rotating base I3, the upper and lower ends thereof both being shown in Figure 3; and in this way convenient access is provided from the rotating base to the operator's station. The stairway further provides access to a deck or platform 56-b located in the tower at an elevation intermediate the rotating base and the oor of the operators station. This deck (5G-b) is provided for convenience in making repairs or adjustments on various devices of -the control system, which is mounted just below the floor 56 of the operators station, as is described hereinafter.

Access from the rotating base to various other Aparts of the machine is also Yfacilitated by employment of ladders, such as the ladder indicated at 63 in Figures 1 and 3, which extends upwardly from the side platform 64 of the rotating base to the roof of the cab structure 24. Access from the roof of the cab lto the gantry headshaft is provided by a ladder 65 which is supported by the gantry legs 4l (see Figures 1 and 3). A platform {i5-a is carried between the gantry legs M and the ladder B5, to provide convenient ,access for a workman in lubricating, inspecting or repairing the several structures arranged at .the gantry headshaft. Access from the roof of .-the cab .structure Z4 tothe roof ofthe control tower is provided for by a ladder 6E.

Inaddition to the control-tower windows above mentioned (51, 58 and 5S), the tower is prefer- :ably also provided with a window 'i5-ca at the :rearwall of the'operators station- (see Figurer) as Vwell as with windows 25-b .and 25-c in the .front wall of the tower below the operatons station (see Figure 1). Moreover, the cab vstructure is also provided with windows at 2li-a, 24-b and 2'4-c (see Figures l and 3), and with a door 24-d at the right -hand side .toward the front, .and a door v24-c at the left hand side toward .the front, the two doors each being provided with lights for increased illumination in the interior of the cab. 'l

Mounted VAon top of the control tower roof is a searchlight 6l for convenience in night work. In addition, .a pair of 'searchlights B8-68 are arranged one toward each side of the machine at the :front (see Figure l), andthe lights 61 and 68, as well as other lighting and electrical equipment employed throughout the machine are supplied with current from a'self-contained ygenerating plant which is `shown at 69.

In considering the mounting -of the machin -ery on the rotating base I3 and the machinery frames 2|, attention is directed to Figures 5 to 9, inclusive, and it is noted that certain features A'of the rotating base itself constitute subject matter disclosed and claimed in my copending application `Serial No. 603,382, led concurrently herewith and entitled Rotating Base for Load Handling Machines, which application issued-on January 4, 1949, as Patent No. 2,458,271. From Fig- -ure 6 it will be seen that the rotating base comprises a central vbase structure constituting ,the backbone of the machine, which may either be of built-up construction or, asshown in the drawings, may comprise a casting l3-a. All the major operating units of the machine are con- :nected to or anchored on this base casting. 4The central casting also serves to carry the lateral extensions I3-b and iB-c providing a platform extending around Ythe machinery. One or more counterweights 'l0 are fastened to the central casting |3-a toward its rear end and the engine 20 isalso mounted at the rear end. The--en- `gine shaft 1|, which is supported in a bearing standard II-a, carries a sprocket cooperating with a cha-in T2 which chain serves to drive the jack shaft 13 through the sprocket 'I4 (see Figures 5, 6 and '7). The jack shaft is journalled in the right hand-machinery frame 2i and also in a support 'I5 which rises from an intermediate portion l3-c of the base 'casting i3-a. Another `jack shaft support 16 is provided just inside the Vplane of the sprocket i4. As clearly appears in Figures 6 and 7, the jack shaft T3 carries a pinion 'I1 which is keyed to the shaft, this vpinion meshing with a gear 18, fixed on the rear hoist drum shaft 'J9 which is journalled at the upper edges of the machinery frames 2l-2l and extends across the machine to carry another gear 8U which is keyed to its opposite end.

Another front hoist drum shaft 8| is mounted at the upper edges of the machinery frames ahead of the shaft 19, the shaft 8 having keyed thereon a gear 82 which meshes with gear -18 to receive power therefrom.

A horizontal reverse clutch shaft 83 is located intermediate the rear and front hoist drum shafts 19 and 8l, shaft 83 being journalled in the ma.- chinery frames 2i in the lower region thereof and having associated therewith certain gears and clutches described below for effecting the functions of swing and propel. At this point, it is noted that with the arrangement of shafts just described, particularly the two drum shafts '19 and Bui adjacent .the top of the machinery frames,

and with` l shaft 83 mounted intermediate the drum shafts in the lowrregion of the machinery frames, th invention further contemplates a machinery frame interbrace 84 interconnecting the upper edges of the machinery frames in the region above the transverse shaft 83 and intermediate the two drum shafts 19 and 8|.

The various functions of the machine are performed by the clutching of various operating units to the primary machinery shafts already mentioned above. Although the details of the clutches form no part of the present invention per se, the general arrangement of one of them is described just below to illustrate the manner in which the power is transmitted from the shaft to an operating unit. For purposes of illustration, reference is made to the clutch and other devices which are associated with the rear drum shaft 19,

as shown in Figures 6, '7 and 9.

First note that shaft 19 carries a cable drum 85, which drum is adapted to cooperate with the lhoist cable 36 shown in Figures 2 and 3 as extended upwardly to pass over the sheaves 35 at the -point of the boom jib 25. Drum 85 is rotatively mounted on shaft 19 and has a clutch housing 86 connected for rotation therewith (i. e., with the drum). The clutch housing 86 (see Figure 9) Acomprises an internal cylindrical part 86-a within which is arranged an internal expanding friction clutch, and also an external cylindrical part 86-b adapted to cooperate with an external contracting friction brake band, the clutch and brake being clearly illustrated in Figure 9 and described just below, although it may be mentioned that the brake band has been omitted from the showing of Figures 6 and 7 for the sake of clarity.

Referring now to Figure 9, a clutch spider 81 is keyed as at 88 to the rear drum shaft 19, the spider serving to carry a supporting bracket 89 for the dead end of the clutch band 90, this bracket being adjustable with reference to the spider 81 by an eccentric adjustment device 9|. The live end of the clutch band 90 is associated with one arm 92 of a control lever which is pivoted at 93, the other arm 94 of this lever being associated with a fluid pressure power cylinder-95 by means of which the clutch may be engaged and disengaged. The type of arrangement here shown for mounting the control lever 92-94 is fully disclosed in Parsons Patent No. 2,352,969, issued July 4, 1944.

The dead end of the external brake band 96 is anchored at 91 on a bracket 98 mounted on a xed structure 99. Bracket 98 also serves to mount the fulcrum of the brake operating bell crank lever, one arm |0| of which is connected with the live end of the brake band and the other arm |02 of which is connected by means of link |03 with the power piston in the fluid pressure cylinder |04. A spring urges the operating lever arm |02 in the direction to apply the brake. The brake is thus of the spring-set type, the power cylinder |04 acting to effect release against the action of the spring.

With a mechanism of the type described just above in connection with Figure 9, it will be seen that upon engagement of the clutch 90, the clutch housing 86 is caused to rotate with the shaft 19, thereby rotating drum 85, to wind in the hoist hook 31. When it is desired to lower hook 31, the clutch is of course disengaged and the rate and extent of lowering is controlled by the brake 96,

the setting of which is determined by the relation between the force of spring |05 and th prs; sure in cylinder |04. u

The fluid pressure control cylinders and |04 are adapted to be operated by controls located at the operators station in the control tower; as are various other similar fluid pressure control devices mentioned hereinafter. The control system which is associated with cylinders 95 and |04 and also with other power cylinders is described below with particular reference to Figure 10.

Referring now to the front drum shaft 8|, this shaft carries a cable drum |06 adapted to cooperate with the main hoist cable 33 (see Figures 2 and 3), the drum |06 being rotatively mounted on shaft 8|. Rotative with the drum 06 is a cylindrical braking surface |01 (see Figure 6) located at one side of the drum, and also a clutch housing |08 located at the other side of the drum. A friction brake band |01-a. (see Figure 5) is adapted to cooperate with the brake surface |01, this band being similar to that described above with reference to Figure 9 and being adapted to .be controlled by a fluid pressure power cylinder shown at |04-a. in Figures 5 and 10. An internal expanding clutch similar to that illustrated in Figure 9 is positioned within the clutch housing |08, this clutch being adapted to be operated by a fluid pressure power cylinder similar to cylinder 95 of Figure 9, as indicated at 95-a in Fig- 10. Thus the front hoist drum |06 is adapted to be connected with the shaft 8| by means of a clutch lying within the housing |08 in order to raise the main hook 34; and the brake |01-a associated with brake surface |01 is employed to control the rate and extent of lowering of hook 34.

Turning now to the boom hoist function, particular attention is directed to Figures 5, 6 and 7.

-As there shown the boom hoist drums 52 and 53 Y provided toward the other side of the machine .but extended centrally of the base sufficiently to accommodate the transmission or gear casing |2. Wthinthiscasing ||2 shaft |09 carries a worm wheel ||3 meshing with worm 4, constituting an irreversible worm drive. The worm is mount- ,ed on shaft 5 which is journalled in the casing I I2. At its upper end, exteriorly of casing 2, shaft 5 carries a bevel pinion I6 meshing with a pair of bevel gears |1-| I8 which are respectively fastened to clutch housings ||9 and |20.

Each of the gear and clutch housing assemblies ||1-| I8 and IIS-429, is rotatively mounted on the jack shaft 13, and an internal expanding A,clutch is arranged within each one of the housings ||9 and |20, these clutches being adapted to alternatively clutch one or the other of the housings to the jack shaft, so as to rotate bevel pinion ||6 ling, raising and lowering of the boom are adapted ,7o cable 36 and thus raise a load being handled by -to be actuated by fluid pressure power cylinders of the general type already discussed above, these two cylinders being shown at |2| and |22 in Figure 10.

Turning now to the functions of swing and propel, it is rst noted that provision is made for driving the horizontal reverse clutch shaft in either direction, the mechanism employed for this purpose being shown in Figures 5, 6 and 8. At opposite ends of shaft 83, outside of the planes of the driving gearing 82 and 83, clutch housings |23 and |24 are mounted. A gear |25, meshing with gear 82, is xed to rotate with clutch |23, this assembly U23-i 25) being rotatively mounted on shaft 83. Similarly a gear |26, meshing with gear 8B, is iixed to rotate with clutch housing |24, the two being rotative on the shaft 83. As seen in Figure 5, an internal expanding friction clutch |21 is aranged within the housing |23, being supported by a spider |23 which is keyed to shaft V83. This clutch mechanism is generally similar to that described above in connection with Figure 9 and is adapted to be actuated by a uid pressure power cylinder |29 (see also Figure 10). Upon engagement of clutch band |21, the shaft 83 is caused to rotate with gear |25, which meshes with gear 82 on the front drum shaft 8|. lar clutch arrangement is associated with the clutch housing |24, this latter clutch also being adapted to be operated by a iluid pressure power cylinder which is shown in Figure 1G at |29-a. Because of the fact that gears 83 and 82 rotate in opposite directions, shaft 83 may be driven in opposite directions by engagement of one or the other of the clutches at its outer ends. Engagement of these clutches, respectively, is effected through fluid pressure connections which include rotative joints 29 at the ends of shaft 83.

Power is delivered from shaft 83 through bevel pinion |30 to a bevel gear |3|, the latter being fixed at the upper end of the vertical reversing shaft |32, which shaft further carries a pinion |33 meshing with a gear |34. Gear |34 is rotative with respect to the vertical swing shaft |35. Similarly, a gear |33 is rotative with respect to the vertical propel shaft |31, the two gears |34 and |36 intermeshing and therefore being rotated with the vertical reversing shaft |32 and with the gears |33 and |3| carried thereby.

Swing motion is effected vby virtue of a pinion |38 xed to the lower end of the vertical swing shaft and meshing with the internal ring gear |39 formed just inside of the circular track I8 on the truck structure i4. The vertical propel shaft |31 carries a bevel pinion |40 at its lower end which is adapted to cooperate with truck drive mechanism (not shown) for example of the general type shown in copending application of this applicant and Cecil E. Jones, Serial No. 454,- 792, led August 14, 1942, which application issued on October 23, 1945, as Patent No. 2,387,268. Since the truck drive forms no part of the present invention per se, it need not be considered herein. Gear |34 is adapted to be clutched to the vertical swing shaft |35; and, similarly, gear |36 is adapted to be clutched to the vertical propel shaft 31. For this purpose swing and propel dog clutches |4| and |42 are keyed to shafts |35 and |31, respectively, these clutches being arranged above the gears |34 and |36 and being adapted to be engaged alternatively. Actuation of the clutches is eiected by a double-ended lever |43 which is pivoted at |44, the two ends of the lever cooperating with clutches |4| and |42, so that upon rocking of the lever either -clutch is engaged and the other disengaged. In

Figure vthe clutches |4| and |42 are both shown disengaged for the sake of clarity of illustration, but it is to be understood that normally one or the "other of these clutches remains engaged. The

lever |43A is adapted to be actuated by a iluid A simii2 pressure power cylinder device |45 (see also Figure 10), coupled to shaft |44 by a short lever. l

By virtue of the arrangement described just above, the vertical reversing shaft |35 and the vertical propel shaft |31 may alternatively be driven in either direction, the two directions of rotation being secured by virtue of engagement of one or the other of the clutches associated with the ends of the horizontal reverse clutch shaft v83.

The vertical swing shaft |35 also has a brake associated with its upper end, the brake including braking surface |43 keyed to the upper end of shaft |35 and surrounded by an external contracting brake band |41 (see Figure 6) which is adapted to be actuated by a fluid pressure piston and cylinder device |48 (see also Figure 10) through links and levers indicated at |49.

It is here noted that certain structural features of the machinery for performing the functions of swing and propel, as above described, are shown and claimed in my Patent No. 2,354,863 issued August 1, 1944, so that detailed descriptions of those parts need not be given herein, but it is to be understood that certain of these parts shown in my prior patent are herein disclosed in a novel association with certain other parts of the machine of the present invention, and further that according to the present invention an improved form of control system is provided, which control system is not disclosed in my prior patent aforesaid.

For the purpose of effecting steering of the crawler truck, a control tube |53 is extended downwardly through the vertical propel shaft |31 for actuation of certain truck drive clutches in the manner disclosed in copending application above mentioned, Serial No. 454,792. The upper end of control tube |56 is adapted to be moved vertically by means of a control arm or yoke (not shown) engaging member |5| which is iixed at the top of the control tube (as shown in Figure 5), the arm or yoke being fixed to a transverse shaft |52, and the shaft being provided with an operating power cylinder and piston device |53 (see also Figure 10) by means of which the control tube |58 may be raised or lowered. The details of this truck steering control need not be considered herein, although it may be mentioned that the iluid pressure actuating device |53 is incorporated in the control system of the present invention.

The crawler truck is further provided with an adjustable locking device of the general type disclosed in Jones Patent No. 2,351,685 issued February 20, 1944. Although the specic structure of the truck lock need not be considered herein, it is mentioned that the lock is adapted to be controlled by the central control rod |54 which extends vertically through the control tube |58. At its upper end, the control rod |54 carries a member 55 with which a yoke |53 is associated, the yoke being secured to a transverse control shaft |51 which is extended laterally beyond the machinery frames 2| appearing toward the .top of Figure 6 and there provided with a manual operating lever |53.

The various control devices, especially the fluid pressure cylinder and piston devices above mentioned, are all incorporated in the control system for the machine, being operated by remote control from the operators station. In addition to the control devices already mentioned, the operator in the control tower is further given certain engine controls, including a control for the fluidpressure cylinder and piston device 13 |59 (see Figures 6 and 10) fwhich serves to actuate a lever |68 mounted on Shaft IBI which is extended into the clutch casing |62 of the engine. Casing |62 encloses a master clutch by which the engine may be disconnected from all of the operating machinery. Clutch operating lever |60 has an extension IBD-a by which the clutch may be manually actuated by an attendant stationed on the rotating base in the cab. The other engine controls which are given to the operator in the control tower are referred to hereinafter with reference to Figures 4 and 10.

It is here mentioned that although the arrangement of control organs at the operators station in the control tower, as provided by the invention, may be used in association with remote control connections of other types, I prefer to employ a system of fluid pressure connectionsJ most advantageously air pressure. For this purpose, the engine is utilized to drive an air compressor |63 (see Figures 5, 6 and 10), the compressor delivering air under pressure through line |64 to a high pressure reservoir |65 which is provided with a cut-out line |66 returning to the compressor. A low pressure reservoir |61 receives air from reservoir |65 through a reducing valve |68 and pipe |69. All of the fluid pressure control devices of the machine are supplied with air pressure from the low pressure reservoir |51.

Reference is now made to the arrangement of the controls in the control tower, and in this description particular attention is directed to Figures 4, 4F, 4S, 3 and 10. As shown in Figures 4 and 4F, a control stand |18 is arranged in front of the operators seat 68, `this stand being carried at its ends by upright supports |18-a, and serving tov support four control knobs, |1|, |12, |13 and |14, the functions of which are described below, with reference to Figure l0. These control knobs are mechanically coupled with uid pressure control valves such as those indicated at |15 in Figure 3, which valves are mounted just below the floor 56 of the operators station.

The mechanical connections between the knobs on the control stand and the control valves need not be considered in detail herein. However, it is noted that they are advantageously carried horizontally in the control stand itself toward the ends thereof and thence downwardly, for instance by means of rods |1049 (see Figure 4F), through the floor 56, so as to leave a clearv space below the control stand for the mounting and operation of certain foot controls, including a pair of hoist brake pedals |16 and |11, and an intermediate spring-released pedal |18 which is connected with the engine throttle and serves as a foot accelerator. Provision of a clear space below the top board of the front control stand is also of importance in improving the operators range of vision, especially downwardly at the front. The operator thus has a line of vision below the front stand through the front windows 51 which, as noted above, extend down to the floor 56, this being of particular advantage in a machine as here disclosed in which the operators station is located at a considerable elevation. In this connection it is also pointed out that location of the control valves |15 and associated devices below the floor 56 of the operators station is also of importance in providing clear space for good vision below the front control stand. Pedals |16 and |11 serve to release the two hoist brakes, and each is provided with a releasable device for retaining the pedal in brake release position, without the necessity for the operator to keep supply reservoir 61.

a foot n the pedal. ,The details of this mecha nism need not be cnsideredherein, but it is,I noted that the arrangement of these releasable retaining devices is such that they are brought up to the front control stand, the device for pedal |16 taking the form of a controllable knob' |19, and the device for pedal |11, a knob |88;

the two knobs being disposed toward opposite y ends of the control stand.

A side control stand |8| (shown in Figures 4 and 4S) is positioned toward that side of the operators seat presented toward the central vertical plane of the boom and gantry, i. e., at the operators right hand. This side control stand serves to support four knobs, |82, |83, |84 and |85, the functions of which are described below. The side control stand further is provided with an engine starter control |86 and a hand throttle control |81 which may be adjusted-to any desired minimum engine speed setting. The fluid pressure control valves |82-a to |85-a which are actuated by the knobsl |82 to |85 are advantageously mounted directly below the top plate of the side control stand |8|, fluid pressure control pipes described herebelow being extended theretherebelow is not required. As will be seen from comparison of Figures 1 and 4, a line of vision for the operator downwardly through the lowermost side windows 58 is provided by location of the side control stand in a position spaced somewhat from the front wall of the tower.

Control stand I 8| may also be employed to carry other devices which need not be considered herein, such as gauges, electric switches for lighting, and the like.

Attention is now directed to the piping system illustrated in Figure 10, on which the several cylinder and piston devices are shown, and on which an indication is also made of the principal machinery shafts and of the control knobs and pedals located to the front and to the side of the operators station.

A iiuid pressure supply line |88 is extended from the reservoir |61 (which is advantageously located'on the rotating base) upwardly in the controltower to two manifolds |89 and |99 which are associated respectively with the controls on the front and side control stands. A shut-off cock |9| is provided in the supply line |88 in advance of the manifolds |89 and |90. Manifold |89 is preferably mounted below the oor 56 of the operators station, for instance in associa tion with control valves |15, but manifold |9|) is advantageously mounted in the side control stand |8| (see Figure 4S) in close association with the valves |82-a to |85-a.

Actuation of the front hoist clutch -a is accomplished by a control valve |1I-a operated by knob |1|. Opening of Valve |1|a delivers fluid trough line |92 to the clutch cylinder 95-a. Release of the brake for the front hoist drum is accomplished by actuation of the footf pedal |16 which operates valve |16-a to deliver pressure through line |93 to the relay valve |94 which, in turn, opens line |95 for delivery of operating fluid to brake cylinder |D4-a directly from the By this arrangement, the main air pressure for operating the hoist brake is not required to pass through the manifold |89. A pressure gauge |16-g connected with cylinder |04-a througlrthe gauge line I04f serves to indi'cat'e the pressure inV` the control'cylinderv *fory the front hoist brake.

The rear hoist drum may be clutchedtto its I ates valve vlll-a, thereby Ydelivering pressure.'v

through line |91 to the relay uvalve |98 which, in turn, is thereby opened to deliver operatingiuid to'cylinder |04 directly fromthe reservoirr|61,

through pipe |99. A pressure,gaugell'lrgcon-T Y nected with cylinder |04 through the. gauge line;

M14-1 serves to indicatethe releasing, pressure in the control cylinder for the*` rear hoist brake.

The control knob |13 is operable both fore and aft to alternatively open valves |'l3h-ar1and |13 b.4 Y. Opening valve |13-a delivers pressure through Y l,

line 200 to one of the' clutches `('|h2|) associated h with the jack shaft/13 for delivering power there-A from tothe boom hoist drum's52 and 5,3. Opening valve ns-b delivers pressure throughline zal.

Forward move- -f to the'other boom clutch |22.

ment of knob |13 actuates valve |13-b and thus n.

clutch |22 which eiects lowering of the .boom and rearward movement of knob |13 actuates valve |13-a and thus clutch |2| which effects raising of the boom.

Control knob |12 is similarly movable both fore and aft, to alternatively actuate valves |12-c and |12-b, which are associated respectively with ward movement of knob |12 operates .valve |12-.01, and thus cylinder |20 and thereby eects swing to the left. When the mechanism driven from shaft 83 is conditioned to effect the function of. propel, forward movement of knobllz` operates.

cylinder |29-a and thereby elects propel in for-` ates cylinder |29-a and thereby eilects propel backward. l

The control for conditioning the :units of theV` 1 machine driven from the reverseA shaft 83 .to alternatively perform the functiorisol.A swing and propel is located on Ythe side control stand, and..

comprises knob |83 which is movable in opposite directions to control a two-way valve.|8,3fcr are.,

ranged to alternatively deliver pressure through lines 204 and 205 to the opposite Vends of thedou- Y ie.' r |82 in either direction from its neutral 'position-l will result in steering of the machine to one/side or other, when the propel knob |12 is actuated; this steering being accomplished in any'desiredV manner, preferably by effecting drive of the two crawler treads at different rates, which'may be" donebymechanism of the'type shown in copend*'Y ing .application Serial No. 454,792, above mentioned. L

When the control |83 isadjusted to itsf-swingf Y position, knob |12 on the front control stand then provides for swing to the left or to the right. Swing motion may be arrested by operation of" the swing brake |-l41 (see Figures 5 and 6.)V which is controlled by knob |84 on the side con- 1 trol stand. This knob controls the valve |84-a to deliver pressure through line 208 to the swing brake operating cylinder |48. f 7 I Knob |85 on the side control stand operates the two-way valve ISS-a to alternatively deliver pres-y sure through lines 209 and 210 to opposite ends of |82 to |85, which are associated with the'side con# trol stand |B| are all of types which require only presetting or only occasional adjustment, for instance, to condition various units of the operat`- ing machinery to selectively perform different functions. On the other hand, all of those con' trols which actually effect the primary working functions of the machine are grouped together at' I the front of the operators station. This group comprises knobs |1|-to |14 mounted on the con' trol stand |10, and also the foot brake pedals |16 and |11, as well as the foot accelerator |18. Maximuin convenience is thereby provided in operation of the machine.

All of the controls, moreover, are readily accessible when the operator is seated. At the same time, because of the considerable elevation of the* operators station at the top of the control tower;

and further because of the arrangement of win# dowsprovided in the upper portion of the con! trol tower, even when seated, theoperator has full and clear vision both upwardly and down wardly and to the sides, so that the load being i handled, as well as any surrounding obstacles,

- can readily be observed.

ble-acting cylinder |45 which controls the opera.

tion of the lever or beam |43 (seeFigure 5), and

thereby connects the horizontal reverse clutch I shaft 83v alternatively with the swing drfive pinion |38 and the propel drive bevel pinion |80.-m f

Knob |82 on the side -controlM stand is -also-H- movable in two directions to .operate the two-lw-ay M valve the double-acting cylinder |534 which,.is.lassoci..

ated with the truck steering 4 z nechanismabove described, and eiects vertical movement of the henthe control tube (seerFigure 5),'. 'I'hus u knob |83 is adjusted to propel position,v andv the other. Operation ofthe steering'cotrol knob According to the foregoing, a load handling" machine capable of handling "large and heavy loads is provided, and notwithstanding thesize and weight of the machine and its various operating parts and machinery, the several 'working functions can be performed with ease and reliability.

I claim: v

l. In a. crawler type load Yhandling machineV having a rotating base carrying operating machinery, a boom and-a cab-structure enclosingthe f machinery: a control-tower mounted onthe-base" and having an operators station therein at' an elevation providing vision for the operator'well above. theY cab structure, operators controls for?" the machinery in the tower at the operators stafV .1 tion, with control devices operativelyassociated- 170. when vknob |82 is locatedjn itszmid Q rmeutral i position, operation of knob |12 on Vthe :frontconf trol stand will then set the. drive mechanism'into v operation and effect drivingin one direction or.-

w'ithsaidcontrols locatedin the tower close to but below the floor of the operators station, and further with control connections extended downf wardly .from the icontrol devicesfor remote con` trol Yof the machineryon the base, andi-Sla' decals-Hfvv in the tower between the :door of the operators 17 station and the base and providing convenient access to said control devices.

2. A construction according to claim 1 in which the control devices below the iioor of the operators station comprise uid pressure valves, and in which the control connections comprise fluid pressure lines extended downwardly through the tower to the machinery on the base 3. In a crawler type load handling machine having a rotating base carrying a boom mounted for upward and downward swinging movement, and carrying operating machinery, certain units of which are adapted alternatively to perform different functions; a control tower mounted on the base and having an operators station therein offset to one side of the plane of upward and downward swinging of the boom and at an elevation providing vision for the operator well above the operating machinery, and control mechanism for the machinery including a control organ for conditioning a unit of the machinery to perform one or another function alternatively, and a control organ for regulating the operation of said unit, said two control organs being located at the operators station and respectively positioned at a side of the station and at the front of the station.

4. A construction according to claim 3 in which the control organ for conditioning aunit of the machinery to perform one function or another is located at that side of the operators station adjacent the plane of upward and downward swinging movement of the boom.

5. In acrawler type load handling machine having a rotating base carrying a boom mounted for upward and downward swinging movement, and further having an operators station and carrying operating machinery, certain units of which are adapted alternatively to perform different functions; control mechanism for the machinery including a control organ for conditioning a unit of the machinery to perform one or another function alternatively, and a control organ for1 regulating the operation of said unit, said two control organs being located at the operators station and respectively positioned at a side of the station and at the front of the station.

6. In a crawler type load handling machine having a rotating base carrying operating machinery, certain units of which are adapted to be conditioned to selectively perform the functions of swing and propel, and certain units of which are adapted to be conditioned to selectively steer toward the right or left; an operators station on the rotating base, and control mechanism for the machinery including a control organ for conditioning certain units to selectively perform the functions of swing and propel, a second control organ for conditioning units to selectively steer to the right or left, and a control means for regulating the operation of said units, said two control organs being located toward a side of the operators station and said control means being located toward the front of the operators station.

7. In a crawler type load handling machine having a rotating base carrying a boom mounted for upward and downward swinging movement,l Y

18 units to selectively perform the functions of swing and propel, a second control organ for regulating the operations of said last units, a third control organ for regulating hoisting, and a fourth control organ for regulating boom hoisting, said rst control organ being located toward a side of the operators station and the other three control organs being located toward the front of the operators station.

8. In a crawler type load handling machine having a rotating base carrying a boom mounted for upward and downward swinging movement, and carrying operating machinery, certain units of which are adapted to respectively perform the functions of hoisting and boom hoisting and certain units of which are adapted t0 be conditioned to selectively steer toward the right or left; an operators station on the rotating base, and control mechanism for the machinery, including a control organ for conditioning units to selectively steer toward the right or left; a second control organ for regulating the operation of said last units, a third control organ for regulating hoisting, and a fourth control organ for regulating boom hoisting, said first control organ being located toward a side of the operators station and the other three control organs being located toward the front of the operators station.

9. A construction according to claim 8 and further including a swing brake, with a control organ therefor located at that side of the operators station on which the first mentioned control organ is located.

10. In a crawler type load handling machine having a rotating base carrying operatingmachinery and having a boom mounted on the base for upward and downward swinging movement, a control tower mounted on'the base and having a floor providing an operators station offset to one side of the plane of swinging movement of the boom and located at an elevation providing vision for the operator well above the machinery on the base, the operators station being enclosed and provided with windows at the front thereof extended throughout an appreciable vertical distance upwardly substantially from the elevation of the oor of the operators station to provide vision for the operator at a steeply inclined downward angle, whereby the operator may readily observe objects close to the front of the machine at the ground level, notwithstanding the considerable elevation of the operators station.

11. In a crawler type load handling machine having a rotating base carrying operating machinery and having a boom mounted on the base, a control tower mounted on the base having a fioor providing an operators station at an elevation providing vision forA the operator well above the machinery on the base, and a control stand at the front of the operators station spaced above the station floor to provide vision for the operator at a steeply inclined forward and downward angle between the control stand and the floor, whereby the operator may readily observe objects close to the front of the machine at the ground level, notwithstanding the considerable elevation of the operators station.

l2. In a crawler type load handling machine having a rotating base carrying operating machinery and having a boom mounted on the base, a control tower mounted on the base having a fioor providing an operators station at an elevation providing vision for the operator well above the machinery on the base, the operators station being enclosed and provided with windows at the 

